Pythonic is an adjective that means able to predict the future.

The word python, best known as a deadly type of snake, comes directly from Greek. It meant ‘spirit of divination.’ Here’s an example of pythonic in use:

Mindy’s pythonic powers always impressed me. She predicted our horrible softball team would lose every game, and she was right every time.

Witling is a noun that refers to a person who pretends to be witty.

Our word of the day is related to the word wit, which has its basis in Old English. Referring to someone as a witling is generally considered an insult.

I liked Chris, but he could be a witling at times. His history of using big words without being certain of their meanings was often embarrassing.

Adminicle is a noun that refers to support or aid.

The latin word adminiculum (ad mee nee COO loom) means support. Adminicle shares its origin with other English words like administer and administration. Here’s an example:

We needed Henry’s adminicle for this project. Without his support, we would have been doomed.

Vulgate is a noun that refers to a commonly recognized text.

The Latin word vuglus (VOOL goose) means ‘common people’ or ‘crowd.’ As vulgate was imported into the English language, it soon came to refer to speech known to the common people.

Ross was a well educated guy and he spoke in a very erudite way. He didn’t waste his time with the vulgate of the common people.

Cobby is an adjective that means short and stocky.

The origin of our word of the day is unknown, but the word is often used to describe animals as well as humans that are thick and stocky in build. Here’s an example of cobby in use:

That cobby little puppy stole my heart at the pound. Two years later I’m still taking care of that adorable dog and still paying for his enormous appetite.

Canter is a verb that means to move in a steady gait.

Our word of the day originated in the early 18th century as an abbreviation for the phrase Canterbury pace from the supposed easy pace of medieval pilgrims on the way to the city of Canterbury.

More recently it can be a noun referring to a horse that is somewhere between a trot and a gallop, or it can be a verb that means to walk at an easy pace. Here’s an example:

I could tell my horse Charlie was getting tired when he began to canter into town instead of his usual gallop. I didn’t want to rush Charlie because I knew he’d done a lot of running that day.

Limbic is an adjective that means related to the system of the brain that is governed by emotions and mood.

The Latin word limbus (LIM boose) mean’s ‘edge’ and the limbic system of the brain involves several areas near the edge of the cortex concerned with instinct or mood. Here’s an example of limbic in use:

All my years in political speechwriting has taught me that most people’s reaction to politics is limbic. They don’t respond to logic, they respond to words that spark their emotions in certain ways.

Nodus is a noun that refers to a problem or difficulty.

Our word of the day comes directly from the Latin word for ‘knot.’ When a problem becomes knotty or difficult to unravel, it has become a nodus. Here’s an example:

My inability to play the trumpet well created a nodus in the marching band, but we found a way around this difficulty by having me simply pretend to be playing.

Coeval is a noun that refers to a person or roughly the same age as oneself.

The Latin prefix C-O means ‘jointly,’ while the Latin word aevum (EYE voom) means ‘age.’ A person’s coeval is a person of the same generation. Here’s an example of the word in use:

As a teenager, I expected my parents to object to my taste in music, but it shocked me when a coeval like Mindy thought the music I enjoyed was awful. You’d think somebody my age would have similar tastes.

Jurisprudence is a noun that refers to a legal system.

Our word of the day’s Latin prefix J-U-R refers to ‘law.’ While the Latin word prudentia (proo DENSE ee uh) means ‘knowledge.’ Jurisprudence generally refers to a legal system, but it may also refer to a theory or philosophy of law.

My victory in the lawsuit represents a great day for our nation’s jurisprudence. I’m glad we have a legal system that prevents my neighbor from shoving his snow onto my sidewalk.